Direct Bass

[The_Active_Conundrum]

I currently use a zoom digital multitrack.

I own no bass amp or pedals "for" bass.

It is beginning to show.

Are there any tips/tricks to recording various bass styles? I lean more funk/rock on the bass front, but it all sounds so fake. At best like drum machine bass, at worst like that loser at Guitar Center that thinks because he can play guitar, he can play bass.

If there is one piece of gear to get me through the next few projects, what would it be?

[friendship]

A few companies make stand alone bass preamps with speaker sims that you could use, plugged directly into your multitrack. Some people have been known to record bass through nothing but a mic pre. Or sometimes layer both that direct sound with an amplified sound.

[patrick]

Yeah, get a mic pre or a Tech 21 of some sort.

[Decibill]

Yup, Sans Amp gets my vote.

[Fuzz_Pi]

NOT a sansamp fan, they all sound incredibly scooped and no matter what you do you can't dial out that tacky characteristically amp simulator sound.

Any pre amp designed specifically for bass is what I recommend.

I'm a huge fan of the Rusty Box
http://www.tronographic.com/rustybox.html

3 leaf's new box also looks really interesting:
http://www.3leafaudio.com/the-enabler.html

[Noise Supply]

The easiest way to get good bass tones is to use a compressor. Bass can be a little too dynamic - even if your playing is even, certain notes can ring out louder, and other notes can get lost in a mix. Compression is used a lot on bass in recordings.

Not sure if your multitrack has built in effects, but if it does, see if it has a decent compressor, and put it on the bass channel. If not, there are other options:
1) They make Bass Pre-Amp/DI units that have compression built in - these can be expensive though, so maybe borrow or rent.
2) Use a compressor effect pedal.
3) Borrow or rent a compressor rack gear to record (or re-record) your signal through.
4) Move your session into a computer and use a compressor plugin.

If compression doesn't help you achieve what you're looking for, then I suggest playing with EQ - maybe notch out the junk or boost some carity. Of course, you can use this in conjunction with the compressor. Like effects pedals, there is no right or wrong way of order of effects, but I'd suggest putting the EQ ahead of the compressor, especially if you are cutting out "junk."

[Vuvuzela]

if you have access to it, using the waves guitar tool rack rules. pedals, amps and tuner all in one plugin.
i've DI'ed a ton of bass for bands that i've recorded if they're just doing demos or a quick "dirty" recording

[The_Active_Conundrum]

as far as compressor,I don't know where I heard it from but I recall hearing early on that if going direct, use a compressor, if mic'ing no compressor, because the speaker and air particles will act as a compressor of sorts.

I use a philosopher's tone compressor, mainly for its treble and clean blend. But it still sounds fake. I know its partly because I'm a guitarist playing bass, but also because Philosopher's Tone wasn't really supposed to act like a bass DI or any such useful Bass tool.

Thank for all the useful information so far, guys!!!

[jrmy]

+1 on Rusty Box. I've lusted after one for ages.

As for the Philosipher's Tone, I'm a bass player and used to use one. It never made it to my live board. It's cool for what it does, but it's not what I'd call an ideal bass compressor. I'd suggest you look up Ovni Labs - he's reviewed literally hundreds of compressors, and gives a really concise top ten list as well as individual reviews of each.

EDIT: Here's the link to the Ovni Labs Top compressor picks: http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/toppicks.shtml

Annnnnnnnnnnnd here's the link to his massive review page: http://www.ovnilab.com/

[coldbrightsunlight]

Maybe look into a preamp with a compressor built in? I can get pretty decent bass recording sounds with a fishman preamp -> recording device.

[maggot]

Slight compression/overdrive helps going in, but TBH you should be able to sound at least tolerable running direct into an instrument input and putting a small amount of eq/compression/overdrive in afterwards. I've recorded a lot of bass, and a lot of it sounds like crap by itself going in, but it doesn't take much to get it to sit in the mix. Don't forget to use the tone knobs on your bass as well.